What is God doing? I've been asking that a lot lately.
My wife works in a para-church organization in our small town and I know a lot of what goes on in the churches. I know a lot about what is attempted and the quality of fruit or extent of the frustration that comes of it.
I am very aware of the ups and downs of the ministry of a local church. The people, stories and opportunities to serve that offer hope now often reveal themselves in months as just more of what we had.
We go on by clinging to the potential of the next thing to come along.
But that's really just the way of the world. Week by week we occupy our time with each new thing. As we tire of it, we turn to another.
I'd like to think in the church it would be different. When a life of faith looks a lot like doing anything else, it doesn't seem worth all the work and frustration of the faith. My hope is that God is up to something different in the world.
So I ask, what is God doing?
I went on the mission trip last week partly to find an answer to that question.
If you're reading to find a dramatic answer, I'll say right now I didn't find one. I can't say I saw the sick healed or even that someone was saved. I found a little encouragement though.
But first, I found this interesting. We stayed at a college campus on the last night of our trip and I found this bulletin board in the hallway.
It's hard to read everything on it, but here's what I can read:
- Constantly loving me
- Amplifying love
- Saving lives
- Healing broken hearts
- Being caring
- Being an example
- Forgiving (x2)
- Helping me through stuff
- Winning
- Helping me through friends
- Showing me how to get through hardship
- Saving
- Making me strong
- Being fantastic
- Being awesome
- Being there for me
- Making me new
- Everything
- Loving me unconditionally
- Being a boss
When I first read over that list the day I discovered it, I was less than impressed. General statements in vague words serve to convince only those who are more or less convinced already. Was this the best the future leaders of the church could muster?
When Jesus was asked if He was the Messiah, He gave a powerful list--the blind received sight, those who couldn't walk started walking and the dead came to life. If God is still God, we at least have to admit He's running the show differently now.
So what is He doing?
Looking over that list again, I don't want to completely discredit answers such as "making me new" or "healing broken hearts". While they could be trite and overly simplistic, there also might be some significant stories behind them that don't work well with chalk on a bulletin board.
I know from my own experience on the mission trip that I felt I was being made new, at least a little. I found freedom in growing beyond the self-image that 40+ years of existence had handed me. That story is still forthcoming.
Something was stretching me and even though the growth was hard, it felt like it was for something better. And it wouldn't have happened had it not been for my faith.
Something was stretching me and even though the growth was hard, it felt like it was for something better. And it wouldn't have happened had it not been for my faith.
Even when I'm depressed and discouraged (which happened before I even returned from the trip) I always eventually find in myself a sense of gratitude for simple gifts in life. I must thank the One who gives them. Beauty and peace, even the hints of them, call up gratitude. The chance to express it through songs privately or in a worship service is itself one of the most amazing gifts.
To the unbelieving, I'm sure all of that seems very insignificant, but I am not ready to ignore it. The world has promised me nothing better.
If I were making the action plan, I'd suggest a more impressive display of divine power. But I'm calling it like I see it. There's a quiet whisper of life and I try to listen.
As I do, I'll try to plainly tell the stories (and sing the songs) as life plays out.
Enjoyed your insights Mike! Thanks for sharing them.
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